Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of blogging in the Challenge.

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in
my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary,
and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many
photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of
those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner
sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and
stories about cats that I have shared with you throughout the challenge. And, I
enjoyed visiting your blogs to see what interests
you.

Z is for Zikes, it's time to tie things up...

Make an exit....

Put this to bed...

Mom, Mom, are you really done? It's been a long month. I could use a little petting, some attention, a lap...

And so, another April has flown by. I certainly hope you enjoyed my topic. I normally post my artwork, greeting cards and poetry here; you might want to come back in a few days to see what I've been doing behind the scenes.
Your blogs were entertaining, I am amazed at all the great subjects that were chosen. Congratulations to all of us for surviving another challenge and may the urge to blog live on in us all year long.

We will now return to our irregularly scheduled programming.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of blogging in the Challenge.

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in
my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary,
and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many
photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of
those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner
sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and
stories about cats that I will share for the next 1 blog day with you. I
am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests
you.

Y is for Yawn...

This is JP, who may have been misnamed in a few captions. He was part Ragdoll and was one of the best cats we ever had (I say that about almost all of them). He had a sweet disposition and really liked everybody.

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.
Only 1 more day. Thanks for hanging in here with me.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of blogging in the Challenge.

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in
my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary,
and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many
photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of
those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner
sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and
stories about cats that I will share for the next 2 blog days with you. I
am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests
you.

X is for Xtra-Large...

Gully Cat

What can you doWhen you are caught in the trapOf having a 600 pound Cat on your lap.

It started off cuteShe was grabbing my toes.How she got up here Heaven only knows.

First she played with my pencilChewed holes in the paper,Splashed in my coffeeHad a wild old caper.

She ran herself raggedChasing after my pen,Now she's asleepLike a bear in her den.

I don't think I can take itFor very much longer,My knees have the shakesI'm not getting stronger.

She came up here a mere 6 oz,But that was only a disguise.She's really a 600 pound gully cat,Napping on my thighs. By Suz.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of blogging in the Challenge.

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in
my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary,
and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many
photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of
those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner
sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and
stories about cats that I will share for the next 3 blog days with you. I
am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests
you.

The following piece of prose certainly fits with the on again, off again, hot and cold spring we are having. I wrote it around 1988 so spring time certainly hasn't changed much. Murphy went to kitty heaven many years ago, but his legacy lives on.

W is for Waiting...

The first day of spring arrived and a flower bloomed. Just a small one, a purple crocus pushed up through the snow, but it was a beginning for Murphy and me.

The second day of spring, I noticed that the sun's rays seemed to be a little stronger streaming in through the thermal pane.

On the third day, a veritable cloud of tiny birds landed on the lawn, searching through snow and leaves for newly hatched bugs or wiggly worms wriggling through the dampened earth. Murph watched with much interest through the window.

Murphy Cat in all his glory.

By the end of the week, the days were longer, with a softness about them and an expectant hush. I saw the first bee, as it droned sleepily on its way to early posies, as Murphy Cat and I sat on the front porch step. We, too, grew sleepy in the sun beams and purred at each other in the lovely warmth. Murph even did his rollover dance on the newly dried sidewalk. We are devoted sun-worshipers, we two.

On the eight day of spring, Murph and I awoke with great anticipation--- to find another 8 inches of snow and winter's renewal. By Suz

Friday, April 25, 2014

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of blogging in the Challenge.

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in
my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary,
and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many
photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of
those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner
sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and
stories about cats that I will share for the next 4 blog days with you. I
am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests
you.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of blogging in the Challenge.

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in
my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary,
and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many
photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of
those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner
sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and
stories about cats that I will share for the next 5 blog days with you. I
am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests
you.

U is for Undercover...

Gracie.

Meghan.

Other end of Meghan.

Front: Meghan with her boy Trouble. Back: Gracie with her boy DJ.

"Quick, when she's not looking, climb in the bag. We'll go, too."

Every time we bring out the suitcases, duffle bags and totebags, we get lots of helping paws. We were packing for a cruise and we ended up with more cat fur than clothes in the bags.

"Mom's gonna wonder why her nose is all smushed looking when she wakes up."

JJ between pillows.

Murphy. He used to make laps with me around the outside of the house when I was losing weight. He'd run ahead then dash back to urge me on. He'd walk the quarter mile to the mailbox and back, also.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of blogging in the Challenge.

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in
my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary,
and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many
photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of
those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner
sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and
stories about cats that I will share for the next 6 blog days with you. I
am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests
you.

T is for the tip of the tail...

Gracie waiting at the door.

Margaret waiting for a clean cat pan.

We call this a love fest. Gary and Ralph love to cuddle on the bed.

Ralph rubbed all over Gary's hand.

More rubbing.

Until both of them took a nap. The tail remained in Gary's eye for a long time.

Fiona has an exceptional tail. It puffs up when she is happy.

Most cats have this reaction when they are scared or angry. We call this "fluufy".

Really showing off some "fluufiness." It gets just like a bottle brush.

This was Baby Cat who loved to watch tv. We put the box there so she could see better. Her stub of a tail would always hang over.

Muephy had a long life with us, despite having diabetes. He would jump up on the dining room table every morning to let Gary give him his shot of insulin, then head for the kitchen for food. Love how his tail mimiced the edge of the basket.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of blogging in the Challenge.

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in
my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary,
and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many
photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of
those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner
sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and
stories about cats that I will share for the next 7 blog days with you. I
am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests
you.

S is for Substitute Cat...

Cardboard Cats

Cardboard cats
Are a great kind of cat.
They sit on a shelf
And wait to be petted.
They don't howl or hiss
Or want to be feted.
Cardboard cats
Are a great kind of cat.

Cardboard cats
Are a swell kind of cat.
They don't scratch the couch
Or make the room smell.
They can't cough up hairballs
Or yowl till you yell.
Cardboard cats
Are a swell kind of cat.

Cardboard cats Are a substitute cat.
They can't purr or cuddle
Or make you feel better.
They can't sit on your lap
And act like a sweater.
Cardboard cats
Are a ... maybe not so much.
By Suz

Since 1998, this Cat (Leopard) has been with me for 3 hospital stays, 3 cruises, and every vacation I've taken, including all the car and train trips I've taken to my sister's house. He hangs out of my big tote bag. The stories he could tell. The cabin assistants especially liked him on the Canadian cruise we took. See below.

It was a 14 day cruise and we had to put the cat in a 12 step program after we got home.